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Gold Medals for Nettles

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•May 22, 2019•

Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond junior track and field sensation Kenli Nettles took home three gold medals before the Class 1A state track and field meet ended last weekend.
She placed first in the 100-meter hurdles, 300-meter hurdles and high jump for the medallion hat trick
Nettles ran the 100-meter hurdles in 14.29 and the 300-meter hurdles in a personal best time of 43.68.
She high jumped a season-best height of 5 feet 7 inches.
She also placed fifth in the 200-meter dash with a personal best time of 25.39.

Nuzzo’s First at Sullivan Hosted Sectionals Earns State Ranking

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Photo by R.R. Best
Up and away with Jadon Nuzzo at the state track meet held at Eastern Illinois University. Nuzzo ranked second in pole vault, Class 1A in the state.

•May 22, 2019•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Sullivan boys’ track and field team hosted the Class 1A Sectional last Thursday.
The Redskins placed 10th out of 14 teams with 26 points, while Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond placed eighth with 40 points.
Pana won the meet with 87 points.
For Sullivan, Jadon Nuzzo pole vaulted 15 feet for first place to qualify for the state track and field meet at Eastern Illinois University.
Nuzzo’s best height ranks him second in Class 1A.
Brodie Goss broke Sullivan’s school record in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 16.79, and Leighton Burcham long jumped 20 feet 5.5 inches for fourth place.
“Overall our young team ended the season on a very positive note, with 12 more personal records set that night,” said coach John Bertetto.
For the Knights, Austin Romine qualified for state in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:03.20. Read More

Moultrie Moment of the Week

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Pictured above are Bill Flavel, Leonard Williams, unknown, Jack Shroye, Elbert Lawson, and Paul White at Leonard William’s garage in Lovington around 1959. Please submit photos to the News Progress for future consideration. Originals will be saved for return or forwarded to Moultrie County Historical Society. If you have any other information, please contact the Moultrie County Historical Society at 217-728- 4085.

Letter to the Editor 5-22-2019

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Photo furnished

Dear Editor,

There is so much mistaken in “Jesus Made Adam and Eve, Not Adam and Steve.” It appears this statement was intentionally crafted to be political, divisive and discriminatory.
That’s a great deal of ignorance and damage to pack into only nine words. Heaven help any child who reads such a hateful message.
If we rely on Genesis, Adam and Eve were created by God, not Jesus. If we’re also going by the Bible, God made Adam, Eve and Steve. Aren’t all of God’s creatures worthy of compassion, understanding and love?
Jesus even mentions homosexuality in Matthew 19:11-12, referring to those “who have been so from birth.” He goes further saying, “Let anyone accept this who can.”
Apparently, some modern day churches struggle with accepting people for who they are. We see this in the recent decision by the United Methodist Church.
Jesus was clear that the judgments that we use against others will be the standard applied to ourselves. Read More

Yost Denied New Moultrie County Trial

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•May 22, 2019•
By Mike Brothers

Judge Hugh Finson ruled there was no conflict in Michael Yost’s defense, denying a new trial request for the 2015 murder of Sheri Randall of Sullivan.
Judge Finson explained public defender Brad Rau’s representation of Randall seven years prior to his representation of Yost on murder charges did not represent a per se conflict as argued by Shelby County public defender Walter Lookofsy on Yost’s behalf.
Moultrie County States Attorney Tracy Weaver cited a Supreme Court case denying a per se conflict on unrelated past representation.
“In analysis of the facts of the case, fundamental is the thread of knowledge,” Weaver told the court.”He (Rau) does not recall representing Ms. Randall.”
Lookofsy argued the defendant does not have to demonstrate anything except the victim and Yost were both represented by public defender Rau. Read More

ALAH Baseball Ends Season in Pana

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•May 22, 2019•
The Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond Knights’ season ended against Shelbyville in the Pana Class 2A Regional Thursday.
After taking a 4-1 lead, the Rams plated seven runs in the fifth inning to end the game at 11-1.
Dario Ayala was 1-for-2 with one RBI, and Logan Brough and Brady Borntreger each were 1-for-2.
Quentin Day scored the Knights’ lone run. Read More

Hatchet Shut Out Wins Regional Championship

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•May 22, 2019•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

Calla Roney pitched a 1-hit shutout to help the Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg softball team down Morrisonville 10-0 to win the Class 1A Regional Championship at Pawnee Friday.
After a 1-0 lead, the reigning state champions scored six runs in the third inning and three more in the fourth.
Roney struck out 11 batters and allowed a walk in five innings.
At the plate, she was 1-for-3 with a run scored and a stolen base, and Karlie Bean doubled twice and scored two runs.
Carson Cole doubled in a run, and Natalie Hayes doubled in two runs and stole a base. Read More

Pastor Gene Godfrey Retires from First Baptist Church

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Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Pastor Gene Godfrey and wife Jackie are Cleveland bound.

•May 22, 2019•
By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

After nearly 18 years of service Pastor Gene Godfrey will retire from the First Baptist Church Sunday, May 26.
The public is cordially invited to attend the May 26 10 a.m. Sunday services which will be conducted by Pastor Gene’s son, Pastor Vincent Godfrey of O’Fallon.
An open house reception will be held from 2-4 p.m. in the church’s Fellowship Hall and is also open to the public.
Pastor Gene grew up in Ohio near Cleveland and attended the same church where his grandfather and parents were faithful parishioners.
When his church needed a new pastor, he was part of the search committee that traveled to Colgate-Rochester Seminary for interviews.
“The buildings and grounds were so beautiful,” he recalled, “I knew that one day I would return there for study.”
He went to college and served in the Army. He met his wife, Jackie, in a bowling alley where she worked. They became a blended family with his two sons and her two daughters. He readily admits, “Jackie convinced me to go to seminary.” First Baptist Church has been his first and only ministry. Read More

Spark Housing Committee Unveils Housing

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Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Spark Housing Committee representative Bill Burger told Senior Center visitors about a goal of the committee to revitalize houses utilizing local talent.

•May 22, 2019•
Maintenance Initiative
By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

Seniors, veterans, the disabled and widows will be the primary beneficiaries of the new housing initiative proposed by the Spark Housing Committee to a large group of seniors gathered in Sullivan.
The Sullivan citizen action group spokesperson, Bill Burger, told the crowd at the Senior Center the goal of the committee is “to revitalize houses in Sullivan utilizing local talent and volunteers to improve the quality and sustainability of our community.”
These volunteers will undertake home improvement projects needed by seniors, veterans, the disabled, and widows - projects that they are unable to do themselves. Tasks could include trimming shrubs, mowing lawns, cleaning gutters, painting, building ramps, repairing porches/steps and other small home repairs.
Burger emphasized that projects such as electrical or plumbing repairs would require professionals and are not within the scope of the initiative. Read More

Big D’s Back

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Photo by Mike Brothers
Big D’s Back
Big D’s Dogs is serving all beef hot dogs and Johnsonville brats across from CVS Pharmacy in Sullivan on Fridays. The food cart will be at the intersection of Hamilton and Jackson streets every Friday when weather permits. Owners Dennis and Judy Ozier are introducing three new items in addition to the Moultrie Monster and Cluckburger. New this season is the Sullivan Burger, Kitchen Sink Nachos and The Elvis “Dog”. Big D’s Dogs is also available for birthdays, anniversaries, reunions and more.